China military dog quartet bow out after brave contributions, millions view ceremony online
Committed canines served with distinction, sacrificing their youth to serve country on dangerous missions that protected the public
Four military dogs which have sunk their teeth into everything from bomb threats to emergency storm rescues during their careers have been given a special send-off at a retirement ceremony in eastern China.
The recent event held by a People’s Armed Police (PAP) unit in Shanghai attracted more than 3 million views online.
The retiring animals, adorned with red flowers, completed their final training session before being handed over to adoptive families.
One of the crime-fighting canines was Matt, a 10-year-old male Belgian Malinois and patrol dog who is considered one of the strongest working breeds.
According to China National Radio The Voice of China, Matt was stubborn and playful when he first joined the unit, often running off during training to play.
Over time, Matt became more focused in training, executing bite moves precisely and scaling obstacles quickly.
In 2017, he helped police arrest five gamblers and later earned third place in a relay competition.